2015
PENNSYLVANIA STATE E.M.S. AWARDS
Nomination Form
“Credible Professionals, Doing Incredible Work”
BLS Practitioner of the Year
ALS Practitioner of the Year
EMS Educator of the Year
EMS Communications Award
Dr. George Moerkirk Memorial Outstanding Contributions to EMS Award
Amanda Wertz Memorial EMS for Children Award
Rescue Service of the Year
EMS Agency of the Year
Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, with the
assistance of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) recognizes individuals,
groups, and organizations that have made a significant contribution to Pennsylvania’s EMS System.
All nominations must be received by PEHSC on or before June 15th using the attached form.
The award recipients will be announced at the Pennsylvania State EMS Conference, which will be
held on September 10-12, 2015 at the DoubleTree Resort Lancaster, PA. The formal award
presentation will take place in conjunction with the annual Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency
Services Institute dinner held each November.
Visit www.pehsc.org to download additional nomination forms
2015 PENNSYLVANIA STATE E.M.S. AWARD
NOMINATION FORM
STEP 1. NOMINEE INFORMATION
Name______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address________________________________
Phone #__________________________________________
County______________________________________
EMS Region_______________________________________
EMS Certification Level_________________________
Certification#______________________________________
Agency Affiliate#___________________________________
(For EMS Agency of the Year Award)
EMS Agency Affiliation________________________________________________________________________________________
STEP 2. NOMINATOR INFORMATION
Name______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address________________________________
Phone#___________________________________________
I agree to assist PEHSC with coordination of the award presentation:
 YES  I AM UNABLE TO ASSIST AS REQUESTED
STEP 3. AWARD NOMINATION (SELECT ONE)
 BLS PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR
 ALS PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR
DESCRIPTION: To honor an individual basic life support provider who has
contributed significantly to the development and growth of emergency medical
services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ELIGIBILITY: Those who are currently certified by the Pennsylvania Department of
Health as an Emergency Medical Responder [First Responder] or Emergency
Medical Technician and have made significant contributions by utilizing their
basic life support skills during an emergency situation or in any of the following
areas:
• Mentoring of prehospital care practitioners.
• Planning and development of basic life support systems.
• Research in prehospital medicine.
• Leadership among peers.
DESCRIPTION: To honor an individual advanced life support provider who has
contributed significantly to the development and growth of advanced life support
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ELIGIBILITY: Those who are currently certified by the Pennsylvania Department of
Health as a Paramedic, Prehospital Registered Nurse, Prehospital Physician
Extender, or Prehospital Physician and have made a significant contribution by
utilizing their advanced life support skills during an emergency situation, or in any
of the following areas:
• Mentoring of prehospital care practitioners.
• Planning and development of advanced life support systems.
• Leadership in the advancement of the paramedic as an allied health
professional.
• Research in prehospital medicine.
• Leadership among peers.
 EMS EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
 EMS COMMUNICATIONS AWARD
DESCRIPTION: To honor an individual EMS educator who has contributed to the
development and growth of EMS education in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
ELIGIBILITY: A certified Pennsylvania EMS Instructor or education professional
who has advanced EMS education in any of the following areas:
• Leadership in the advancement of instructional techniques, or;
• Serving as an instructor in basic and/or advanced life support programs.
• Public information and education programs focused on health, safety or
community EMS awareness.
DESCRIPTION: To honor an individual(s) or group who has made a significant
contribution to the advancement of emergency medical dispatch or EMS
communications system planning/administration in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
ELIGIBILITY: An EMD certified telecommunicator, or system
planner/administrator who has made a significant contribution in any of the
following areas:
• Leadership in providing education programs for EMS communications and
field personnel with regard to the Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) system.
• Leadership in community education on the 911 system and emergency
medical dispatch
• Planning or administration of an emergency medical dispatch system
• Management of a crisis situation which led to the improvement of an
emergency incident.
• Leadership among peers.
 DR. GEORGE MOERKIRK MEMORIAL OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTION TO EMS AWARD
DESCRIPTION: This award is in memory of George E. Moerkirk, M.D., Past
President of PEHSC. Dr. Moerkirk was instrumental in the development and
growth of Pennsylvania’s EMS system. He provided EMS education to EMTs and
paramedics and was actively involved in clinical care as a medical command
physician and facility director. Dr. Moerkirk was known throughout Pennsylvania
as the “father of EMS.”
ELIGIBILITY: This award honors an individual(s) or organization who has provided
a significant contribution to the Pennsylvania’s EMS system in any of the
following areas:
• Statewide, regional, or local-level system development or administration.
• EMS agency development or administration.
• Advancement in clinical care.
• Education/Professional Development
• Medical Direction
• Research
• Advancement in safety or illness/injury prevention.
• Vehicle and/or technical rescue
 AMANDA E. WERTZ MEMORIAL EMS FOR CHILDREN AWARD
DECRIPTION: This award is in memory of Amanda E. Wertz, daughter of Patrick
and Elizabeth Wertz. Amanda was a child with special health care needs who
died suddenly in 2001 at the age of 14 and whose parents were both active
paramedics in Pennsylvania for many years. The purpose of the award is to honor
an EMS provider who has made a difference in the lives of children in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in accordance with the mission of the EMSC
program.
ELIGIBILITY: This award honors an individual who:
• Functions in any aspect of pediatric emergency care.
• Has been involved in emergency services for more than three years.
• Demonstrates good judgment, compassion, and a genuine interest in the
provision of quality pediatric care.
• Pursues professional development through continuing education in pediatric
emergency care.
 RESCUE SERVICE OF THE YEAR
 EMS AGENCY OF THE YEAR
DESCRIPTION: To honor a rescue service for their contribution to the
development and growth of the provision of quality rescue services within their
community.
ELIGIBILITY: This award recognizes a Pennsylvania rescue service that:
• Participates in community oriented activities.
• Demonstrates a consistent pattern of rapid response times and adequate
staffing levels.
• Cooperates with surrounding public safety organizations.
• Emphasizes personnel training, continuing education, and professional
development.
• Recognizes the importance of medically-directed rescue operations.
DESCRIPTION: To honor a Pennsylvania EMS agency for their contribution to the
development and growth of quality prehospital care within their community,
while complying with the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Each year two (2) awards may be presented honoring one (1) small
volume (<1,500 responses) and (1) medium to large volume (>1,500 responses)
EMS agency – please include call volume in nomination statement.
ELIGIBILITY: This award recognizes an EMS agency that:
• Is a licensed Pennsylvania EMS agency.
• Complies with applicable EMS statutes, rules and regulations.
• Participates in community oriented activities (CPR Training, School Programs,
EMS Week activities, etc.)
• Demonstrates a consistent pattern of rapid response times and adequate
staffing levels.
• Works cooperatively with surrounding public safety organizations.
• Emphasizes provider education and professional development activities.
STEP 4. NOMINATION STATEMENT
Please state why the candidate deserves this honor in 250 words or less (attach additional sheets if necessary). Include information on the candidate’s length and
type of active EMS service, training/education/certifications, organizational affiliations and offices held, past awards/honors, community involvement or other
pertinent information. Also, if available, provide a high resolution color digital photograph of the nominee (in uniform if possible).
STEP 5. SUBMIT NOMINATION
Submit the completed nomination to:
2015 STATE EMS AWARDS NOMINATIONS
C/O PEHSC
600 WILSON LANE, SUITE 101
MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055
FAX: (717) 795-0741
EMAIL: [email protected]
If you have questions or require assistance to submit your nomination, please contact PEHSC at (800)243-2EMS or (717)795-0740.